AFSCME To Lawmakers: Slow Down On Facility Closure Process

Election Coverage

Level of Government

AFSCME wants the legislators considering Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to close seven facilities to slow down the process and allow for more public input. Henry Bayer, executive director of the union, which represents the largest number of state employees, sent a letter to the lawmakers serving on the Commission for Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) expressing concerns about transparency and the speed with which the evaulation process is taking place. The union is voicing concerns about the short notice for public hearings on the proposed closings. According to a press release:

The AFSCME letter cited the scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 5, public hearing on the Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford, which was announced with little more than a week’s notice, and the commission’s stated refusal to conduct the legally mandated review of the proposed closure of Tinley Park Mental Health Center.
In the hours since the letter was sent, COGFA has reinforced the union’s concerns for transparency by slating the hearing on the Murphysboro Youth Center for 10:30 a.m. on a weekday (Wednesday, Oct. 12) and not in Murphysboro but Carbondale.

"We realize that it may not be COGFA’s intent to depress turnout or stifle participation at these public hearings," Bayer wrote in the letter, "but that will certainly be the result if the hearings go forward as currently planned."

ACFSME suggested that the commission make some changes to the evaluation process to allow for more transparency and public input, including the following:

Ensure that all hearings are held in the evening or on Saturday;
Ensure that each hearing is held in the same locality as the facility threatened with closure;
Ensure that citizens have a least two weeks’ notice in advance of the hearing.

Gov. Quinn has proposed closing Chester Mental Health Center, Mabley Developmental Center, Jacksonville Developmental Center, and Logan Correctional Center as well as the aforementioned Tinley Park psychiatric hospital, Singer hospital and Murphysboro youth center.